Coaxial cable connector



June 24, 1947. E. c. QUACKENBUSH 2,422,982

COAXI AL CABLE CONNECTOR 'Filed Jan.f'7, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 /0 j/ j I 552731.

Z /jg' June 24, 1947. E.- c. QUACKENBUSH 2,422,982

COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR Filed Jan. '7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 24, 1947 COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR Edward Clarke Quackenbush, Roselle, Ill.

Application January l7, 1943, Serial N0. 471,543

Claims. 1

This invention relates to cable connectors of the type adapted for connecting a plurality of separate sections of coaxial cable, and more particularly to connectors of the type for connecting such sections of cable in angular relationship to each other. Such connectors are commonly referred to as angle connectors or T connectors' I and usually include suitable male and/or female contact members adapted for cooperative engagement, with opposite type of contacts carried by` cooperating coupling mem'bers on the ends of the sections of cable to be connected.

Connectors of this general cla-ss heretofore available have not proved entirely satisfactory, particularly in cases where the power loss factor is of importance, or where the connectors are used in high frequency applications. Such priorl y nector of the character indicated which is of relatively small compactform and which is so constructed as to reduce the power loss factor to a minimum.

A further object is to provide an improved connector of the character indicated wherein the connections within the connector proper are made in the process of manufacture and assembly of parts, and thu-s eliminates the necessity of making wiring connections within the connector in the field."

Still another object is to provide an improved connector of the character indicated wherein substantially all voids within the connector are lled with suitable dielectric material to insure maintenance of uniform electrical cliaracteristicsv through the length of theconnector.

A still further object resides in the provision of an improved connector of the character indicated which is constructed and arranged so `as to exclude dust and air and which is substantially waterproof. i

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an axial section through a 'r form of 2 I connector, embodying the present invention, taken as indicated on line I-I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a bottom lelevational view of the connector.

Fig. 3 is an end' elevational view of the connector.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of an angle type of connector embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view through the angle connector, taken as indicated on line 5-5 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the angle connector.

Connectors of the type constituting the present invention are of s the kgeneral class wherein the shell or outer housing is formed of electrically conductive material and is adapted to be connected in circuit with the outer conductors of the coaxial cable sections to be Joined together.

In the T form connector illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings there is included a die cast shell I0 of hollow tubular, T formation, comprising a cross leg I Iand an upright leg I2, said legs being joined together in a manner so that the passages or ducts of the said legs are connected together. Mounted telescopically and relatively snugly within the cross leg Il is a tubular sleeve or body I4 of insulating material,` which is substantially coextensive with the length of said cross leg II and is provided intermediate its length. in central registration with the passageway of the upright leg I2, with an opening I5. Telescoped within the insulating sleeve Il is a double ended female contact member I6, which is formed of rod stock. The opposite ends of said member are centrally bored as indicated at I1. and the walls surrounding the bores I1 are slotted as indicated at I8, so that the portions of said walls intermediate the slots in effect form resilient fingers so as .to permit obtaining a. iirm yielding frictional engagement with the surface of a cooperating male contact member. when connected thereto. The inner wall of the insulating sleeve I4, immediately surrounding the resilient portions of the female contacts, is slightly enlarged so as to accommodate slight lateral defiection of the yielding wall portions of the female contacts.

Mounted in telescopic relation in the upright leg I2 is a circular block 20, of insulating material, disposed in abutting relation to the exposed portion of the sleeve I4, registering with the passageway inthe leg I2. The block 20 is formed with an upwardly extending boss 2l adapted to be snugly fitted into the aperture or opening l of the sleeve. Mounted centrally in the block 2l is a male contact member 22, formed intermediate its length with an enlargement 24, which constitutes a shoulder adapted to be disposed in abutting relation to the undersurface of the block 20. The upper end of the male contact member 23 is threaded into the intermediate or central portion of the double female contact I5.' as clearly seen in the drawings. When the parts are thus assembled, they are positively locked in position within the shell of the connector. For convenience in assembly, the enlargement 24 is formed, as may be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, for convenient engagement by a suitable tool for facilitating the threading and unthreading of the male contact member with respect to the double female contact member IG. Snugly telescoped into the lower end of the upright leg l2 isa plug of insulating material 26, formed to accommodate the enlargement 24 of the male contact member.

The outer surface ofthe end portions of the cross leg I l are threaded as indicated at 20, for connection to suitable coupling nuts of cooperating connector elements associated with the ends of coaxial cable sections to be joined. 'I'he end faces of the cross leg Il are serrated or notched as indicated at I2 in the drawings, for interlocking engagement with a pair of diametrically spaced apart cooperating lugs formed on the adjacent end of a cooperating connector member. Lugs of the type referred to are indicated at 34,

, coated with liquidpolystyrene which in itself is a solvent for the molded polystyrene insulating elements. Preparatory to assembly of the elements within the connector shell the interior of the legs of the connector as well as the various insulating elements themselves are"v coated with Itlwill therefore be apparent that by virtue of the construction described, the entire assembly is fabricated completely by the manufacturer and dispenses with the necessity of the assembly and disassembly of the connector in the field" incident to the making or breaking of wiring connections with the connector, as heretofore has been necessary. By eliminating the necessityof making soldering connections for the conductor wire within the connector, it is now possible to obtain projecting downwardly from the lower end of theH upright leg I2 which lugs, it may be understood, are adapted to be seated in aligned notches formed in the end of a cooperating connector member. The purpose of this interlocking relation is to preclude rotation of one connector element with respect to the other, such as may result from vibration. The exterior of the lower end portion of the upright leg l2 is formed with an annular groove 26 in which is interlockingly engaged a spring ring 31, which is also seated in a groove 38 formed in the inner surface of a tubular coupler nut 40. 'Ihe coupler nut is of generally cylindrical form having the major portion of its exterior surface knurled as indicated at 4l, and the interior thereof threaded as indicated at 42 for cooperative engagement with an externally threaded portion of a complementary connector member. It will be noted that the operating portion 23a, of the male contact member projects a substantial distance downwardly below the insulating plug 26 and is of suilicient length to insure proper and adequate surface engagement with a cooperating female contact.

I'he insulating sleeve i4, the insulating block and the insulating plug 26 are preferably formed of a suitable high efficiency dielectric material. It is highly desired that the dielectric characteristics throughout the length of the connector be of substantially the same thickness, and also correspond to the impedance of the coaxial cable sections to which it is connected. It is therefore necessary to eliminate air gaps and voids by reason of the construction or positioning of the elements within the shell of the connector, otherwise there will be a variation in electrical characteristics ln the connector whicl'aii'ects the power loss factor as well as the reflection factor. To overcome this diiliculty it is preferred that the insulating members be formed of polystyrene, or other equivalent dielectric, and to eliminate all voids or unnecessary space between certain of the elements, certain of the elements are a connector of relativelycompact size, occupying a minimum of space.

In the alternate form of my invention represented in Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings, the connector disclosed is of the angle type. In this construction there is included die cast shell 50 having two tubular legs 5| and 52, joined together at substantially right angles to each other., In

this construction I employ a closed end tubular sleeve 53 of insulating material, telescoped within the leg 52, with the closed end portion of the sleeve abutting against the wall constituting a continuation of the inner wall of the leg 5 I. The upper end portion of the sleeve 53 is formed with an opening 54, disposed in substantially central relation to the passageway formed in the leg 5l. Telescoped within the sleeve 53 is a single female contact member 56 of generally the same construction as disclosed in connection with the T form connector. The upper solid end portion of the female contact is disposed in registration with the aperture or opening 54 in the 4sleeve 53, and snugly telescoped within the transverse leg 5I is a block 51 of insulating material, having a centrally disposed projection 58, snugly fitted within the opening 54 of said sleeve 53. Carried centrally in the block 51 is a male contact 5I having intermediate its length an enlargement 6l adapted to abut against the outer end of the block 51. The inner end of the male contact projects beyond the boss 58, and is threaded into the solid upper end portion of the female contact 55, and thus serves to-tlrmly lock the parts in assembled relation, within the angle connector shell 5II.

Snugly fitted in the outer end of the transverse leg 5| is a plug of insulating material 6l, which is formed for snugly embracing the enlargement 8| nf the male contact 60.

The opposite ends of the angle connector shell are constructed and/or provided with auxiliary elements for connection to cooperating connector elements in a manner similar to that described in connection with the T form connector disclosed in Figs. l to 3 of the drawings, and need not again be described.

The insulating members 5l, 51 and 52 are preferably of suitable material such as polystyrene and the various parts within the angle connector shell are preferably coated with liquid polystyrene to lill up undesired voids therein so as to in effect form a homogeneous insulation between the internal contacts or conductors formed by the connection of a male contact 60 to the female contact I6, with respect to the shell proper, which as above stated is adapted to be connected in circuit with the outer conductors of the respective sections or coaxial cable to be Joined together.

Although I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, manifestly itis capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiments herein disclosed, except as `I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric connector for coaxial cables,

a metallic casing having angularly disposed intersecting legs, tubular insulating sleeves mounted in said legs and snugly engaging the inner walls thereof. said sleeves being formed for abutting interlocking engagement' to provide a substantially homogeneous insulating structure free of voids to insure the maintenance of uniform electrical characteristics throughout the length of the connector, electrical contacts snugly mounted within their respective insulating sleeves, and means for detachably connecting said sleeves and contacts in assembly relation.

2. In an electric connector for coaxial cables, a metallic casing having angularly disposed intersecting legs, tubular insulating sleeves mounted in said legs and snugly engaging the inner walls thereof, said sleeves being formed for abutting interlocking engagement to provide a substantially homogeneous insulating structure free of voids to insure the maintenance of uniform electrical characteristics throughout the length of the connector, electrical contacts snugly mounted within their respective insulating sleeves, and means provided on said contacts for detachably connecting said sleeves and contacts in assembly relation.

3. In an electric connector for coaxial cables, a metallic casing having angularly disposed intersecting legs, a pair of tubular insulating sleeves of substantially uniform cross sectional area mounted in said legs and snugly engaging the inner Walls thereof, said sleeves being formed for arcuate abutting interlocking engagement to provide a substantially homogeneous insulating structure free of voids to insure the maintenance oi' uniform electrical characteristics 6 throughout the length of the connector, electrical contacts snugly mounted within their respective insulating sleeves, and means provided on said contacts for detachably connecting said sleeves and contacts'in assembly relation.

4. In an electric connector for coaxial cables, a metallic casing having angularly disposed intersecting legs, a pair of tubular insulating sleeves of substantially uniform cross sectional area mounted in said legs and snugly engaging the inner walls thereof, said sleeves being formed for arcuate abutting interlocking engagement to provide a substantially homogeneous insulating structure free of voids to insure the maintenance of uniform electrical characteristics throughout the length of the connector, electrical contacts snugly mounted within their respective insulating sleeves, and means provided on said contacts for detachably connecting said sleeves and contacts in assembly relation, said metallic casing being in the form of a T connector.

5. In an electric connector for coaxial cables, a metallic casing having angularly disposed intersecting legs, a pair of tubular insulating sleeves of substantially ,uniform cross sectional area mounted in said legs and snugly engaging the inner walls thereof, said sleeves being formed for arcuate abutting interlocking engagement to provide a substantially homogeneous' insulating structure free of voids to insure the maintenance of uniform electrical characteristics throughout the length of the connector, electrical contacts snugly mounted within their respective insulating sleeves, and means provided on said contacts for detachably connecting said sleeves and contacts in assembly relation, said metallic casing being in the form of an elbow connector.

EDWARD CLARKE QUACKENBUSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 477,951 Mezger June 28, 1892 2,296,766 Bruno Sept. 22, 1942 2,152,504 Scott Mar. 28, 1939 2,335,041 Bruno Nov. 23, 1943 2,376,324 Bogardus May 22, 1945' 1,996,422 Hurley Apr. 2, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 139,298 Switzerland June 16, 1930 

